Chuck jaw adjusting device



Aug. 24, 1954 G. A. HIGHBERGV EI'AL CHUCK JAW ADJUSTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Jan. 5: 1952 All@ 24, 1954 G. A. HIGHBERG ETAL 2,687,308

CHUCK JAW ADJUSTING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /N VEN TORS @concs H. Mensen@ A TTORNE V .Patented Aug. 24, 1954 CHUCK JAW ADJ USTIN G, DEVICE George A. Highberg, West Hartford, Conn., and

` Leonard C. Ponting, Pawtucket, R. I., assignors to The Whiton Machine Company, New London, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application January 5, 1952, Serial No. 265,167

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an adjusting device for the jaws of a lathe chuck or the like. More specifically, the deviceyis adapted to effect micrometer adjustments between the work-engaging top jaw and the master jaw which it is associated with on a chuck of the type having a plurality of the so-called master jaws which are simultaneously moved to and from work-engaging positions. In chucks of this type, the master jaws do not ordinarily engage the work, but each carriesa top jaw for this purpose. There are many obvious advantages in having a top jaw adjustable with respect to its main jaw, as for example, the top jaws can be individually adjusted to assure simultaneous engagement with the workpiece when the master jaws are shifted to work-engaging positions.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel and improved device for adjusting the work-engaging top jaw of a chuck upon its respective master jaw.

It is a further object to provide such a device which is easy to use, simple in construction, and highly efficient for making accurate micrometer adjustments between the top and master jaws.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be more clearly understood from the following description and from the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an end view of cooperating top and master jaws in a chuck and showing the use of my improved adjusting device.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view ofthe said adjusting device. i

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the opposed interengageable sides of the cooperating members of the said adjusting device.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the top and master jaws showing the adjusting device in place on the master jaw and showing the top jaw in exploded relationship thereto.

As illustrated in the drawings, the numeral 5 denotes the body of a conventional chuck having a radial key slot 6 in which is slidably contained a master jaw 1 which is adapted for operation by conventional means (not shown) for selective reciprocable movement in the slot 6 to and from work-engaging positions.

A top jaw 8 is detachably secured upon the said master jaw by suitable clamping means such as clamping screws 9 which are threaded to clamping nuts I0 that are slidable in the head portion of a centrally disposed inverted T- i teeth are adapted to selectively engage with f shaped slot II which extends longitudinally in the master jaw.

To permit guided longitudinal adjustment of the top'jaw 8 relative to the master jaw 'I when the clamping bolts and nuts have been loosened and to prevent relative transverse movement of the jaws, a centrally disposed longitudinally extending projection or rib I2 is provided on the bottom face of the top jaw 8 for sliding engagement within a wide portion I3 of the stem of the inverted T-shaped slot I I, which portion opens upon the top face of the master jaw 1.

As thus far described, the construction of the top'jaw and master jaw conforms to conventional practice. In further keeping with conventional practice, the master jaw 1 is of the serrated type, i. e., a plurality of transverse teeth I6 are provided in the top surface of the master jaw on each side of the longitudinally extending 'slot II. Accordingly, the master jaw in its entirety may be identified as an American Standard Master Jaw of the serrated type which has transverse teeth normal to the longitudinal slot and on both sides thereof. It is conventional practice to provide complementary teeth on the top jaw or on a key supported in the top jaw so that the top jaw can be adjusted relative to the master jaw by selectively interengaging the teeth.

In accordance with the present invention, a two-piece key-like device is provided to adjustably interengage the top jaw and the master jaw. One piece or member of said adjusting device is identified by the reference numeral I4 and comprises a generally rectangular block having ra series of longitudinally extending teeth I 5 across each end of the bottom surface thereof, which the transverse teeth IB in the top surface of the master jaw 1. Between the series'of teeth I5 on each end of the block I4, the said block is provided with a downwardly extending projection or rib I4a adapted to slidably engage within the wide portion I3 in the longitudinal slot II lin the master jaw. It will be seen that the projection or rib I4a prevents movement of the block I4 transversely of the master jaw and the teeth I5 and I 6 prevent movement of the block I4 longitudinally of the master jaw after the said teeth have been selectively engaged. Accordingly, in further consideration of the adjusting device, the block I4 may be referred to as a base member which cannot be moved relative to the master jaw after the teeth have been selectively engaged.

The said base member I4 has a cam slot I'I extending generally diagonally across and in the direction of its greatest dimension in the top surface thereof. The said cam slot II receives a complementary projection or rib I8 on the bottom surface of the other piece or member I9 making up the adjusting device. As best shown in Fis. 5, the member I9 is also of generally rectangular conguration. When the member I9 is placed. over the base member I4 with its diagonal rib t8 located within the cam. slot I'I in the said base member, the two said members dene the generally rectangular key-like adjusting: device of the present invention. The said device is located between the 'master jaw T and the top jaw 8 with the member I9 slidabl-y disposed in. a. transverse slot 21 in the top iaw and. with. the teeth I5 oi the base member t4 selectively eri--r gaged with the teeth I6 on the master jaw. The body portion of the base member I4 is not. dis.- posed within the transverse slot 21 but is located in spaced relationship within a wide communicating slot 28 defined in the bottom face of the topjaw.

It will be readily understood that themember l9 can only move. diagonally with respect. to the base member Ill because of the interengaged rib and cam slot. Since the base member I4 is. xed

with respect to the master jawr because of selective. engagement between their teeth, all relative movements. between the members I and i9 are resolved in. diagonal movementv of the member i9 relative toV the master jaw. The longitudinal component of diagonal movement of the. member I9 takes place within the transverse slot 2l in the top jaw without causing transverse movement of the top jaw relative to the master jaw. The. transverse component oi the diagonal movement of the member I9 causes the topjaw to` be moved longitudinally with respect to the master jaw. Such longitudinal movement ci the. top jaw relative to. the master jaw can be in either direc.- tion, i. e., towards or away from the axis of the chuck body 5. depending, of course, upon the direction. of diagonal movement of the member i9. Obviously, the top jaw 8 can be adjusted longitudinally of the master jaw 'I in micrometer increments by considerably greater diagonal movement oi the member I9- Such diagonal movement of the member I9 relative to the. base. member I4 and' the master jaw 'i is eiiected by means. of an adjusting screw 2.4i which is threaded into the base member I and extends. longitudinally thereof. A dange- 2| and head 23 having a tool receiving socket 2d are. provided on one. end of the screw 2li sol as to be. readily accessible from one side. oi the. top jaw. A. portion of. the screw head flange. 2I is received. within a. slot 22 (Fig. 5)- provided adjacent one. end of the member [9 and extending transversely thereof through the. rib. I8.. As the screw 2U is. turned by a. suitable tool engaged within the: socket 2A of the. head 2.3 to either advance. the screw into the base member it or to withdraw the. same therefrom, the. member I9; is moved diagonally with respect, to: the base. mem.- ber IA.. Thus, rotation of the screw 2G to eiect diagonal movement. of the member I9. relative to the. base member Iii and the. master jaw causes longitudinal adjustment of' the top jaw 8 relative to the. master jaw.. Since the member t9 can be moved in either diagonal direction by the screw 2B depending upon the direction oi. rotation. thereoi, it. will be seen. that. the top jaw can be. moved in either longitudinal. direction with respect. to.. the master jaw or,. in. other. words, the. top, jaw can thus. be moved radially inwardly or. outwardlyof the chuck. body 5.

The amount of top. jaw movement caused by rotation of the screw 20 through one revolution can easily be determined and the results thereof utilized in calibrating the adjusting device for future reference. In this manner, the screw head 23 may be provided with a plurality of calibrations or graduations 25 corresponding to increments of top jaw movement and such. graduations can be read with. reference to an. indicating mark 26 placed upon the end of the rib I8, as shown in Fig. 2.

The assembly and operation of the chuck jaw adjusting device will probably be apparent from the foregoing description, but it is believed that a brief review thereof will serve for a more complete understanding of the invention.

The members Ill and I9 of the adjusting 'device are preferably assembled as a unit with the screw 2U threaded into the member I4 and with the screw head iiange 2l received within the transverse slot 22 in the member I9. The adjusting device can then be placed. upon the master jaw in any desired position so that the teeth of the base member IA interengage the nearest series. of corresponding teeth I6 on the master jaw. The top jaw is then placed upon the master jaw and over the adjusting device so that the rib I2 on the top jaw is received within. the wide portion I3 o the inverted T-shaped slot II on the master jaw. The bolts. 9: are then threaded into the clamping nuts IG disposed within the head portion of the inverted T-shaped slot, but the said bolts. and nuts are not tightened. The adjusting device may then be operated by a suitable tool engaged within the socket 24 in the head of the screw 2S to eiiect diagonal movement of the member I9 relative to the base member I4 and master jaw to thereby elect the desired longitudinal adjustment of the top jaw relative to the master jaw. When the desired adjustmentof the top. jaw has been completed, the clamping bolts 9 are tightened in the nuts |50. and the top. jaw will be. securely clamped in its adjusted position upon the master jaw.

While the invention has been described with reference to one specicembodiment, it is not our intention to. limit. the scope of the invention to. the. described embodiment otherwise than indicated by the claims. which follow.

We claim:

l. in a chuck, the combination comprising a master. jaw having, a longitudinally extending slot in its outer face and a. plurality of transverse teeth adjacent said slot, a top jaw having a transslot and a longitudinally extending rib on its inner face which rib is engaged within said longitudinal slot topermit longitudinal. adjustment between said jaws and to` prevent relative transverse. movement. therebetween, and. an adjusting. device disposed between said. jaws including a 'base member having atleast one-tooth sele tively engaged with thev teeth on said master jaw and having a. projection engaged with. said longitudinal slot. to a said base. member rela.- tive to said master jaw in selected position,y said adjusting dev-ice also including another member slidably. engaged within said transverse slot and engaging. said base mem-ber, cam means between said base member and said other member'.V for eiiecting a longitudinal component of movement o saidtop jaw whensai-d other member is moved within said transverse slot and reative to said base. member, and manu-ally operable means.v for moving. said. other member' within said transverse slot.

2r In. a chuck, the combi-nation comprising a master jaw having a longitudinally extending slot in its outer face and a plurality of transverse teeth adjacent said slot, a top jaw having a transverse slot and a longitudinally extending rib on its inner face which rib is engaged within y said longitudinal slot to permit longitudinal adjustment between said jaws and to prevent relative transverse movement there-between, and an adjusting device disposed between said jaws including a base member having at least one tooth selectively engaged with the teeth on said master jaw and having a projection engaged within said longitudinal slot to fix said base member relative to said master jaw in selected position, said base member having a cam slot in one of its surfaces extending diagonally therein, said adjusting device also including another member slidably engaged Within said transverse slot in said top jaw and having a projection on its outer face slidably engaged in said cam slot for movement therealong whereby to effect longitudinal adjustment of said top jaw relative to said master jaw, and a screw rotatably engaging one of said members and threaded to the other of said members to eiect movement therebetween along said cam slot.

3. In a chuck, the combination comprising a master jaw having a longitudinally extending slot in its outer face and a plurality of transverse teeth adjacent said slot, a top jaw having a transverse slot and a longitudinally extending rib on its inner face which rib is engaged Within said longitudinal slot to permit longitudinal adjustment between said jaws and to prevent relative transverse movement therebetween, and an adjusting device disposed between said jaws including a generally rectangular base member having at least one tooth on one of its surfaces selectively engaged with the teeth on said master jaw and having a projection on said one surface engaged within said longitudinal slot to fix said base member relative to said master jaw in selected position, 'said base member also having a diagonal cam slot in its surface opposite to said one surface, said adjusting device also including another generally rectangular member slidably engaged within said transverse slot and having a diagonal rib on its outer surface slidably engaged in said cam slot whereby movement of said other member in said transverse slot` and along said cam slot eiects longitudinal movement of said top jaw, and manually operable screw means rotatably engaging said other member and threaded to said base member for effecting movement of said other member within said transverse slot.

4. In a chuck, the combination comprising a master jaw having a longitudinally extending slot in its outer face and a plurality of transverse teeth adjacent said slot, a top jaw having a transverse slot and a longitudinally extending rib on its inner face which rib is engaged within said longitudinal slot to permit longitudinal adjustment between said jaws and to prevent relative transverse movement therebetween, and an adjusting device disposed between said jaws including a generally rectangular base member having a plurality of teeth on one of its surfaces selectively engaged with the teeth on said master jaw and having a projection on said one surface engaged within said longitudinal slot to x said` base member in selected position, said base member also having a diagonal cam slot in its surface opposite the said one surface, said adjusting device also including another generally rectangular member slidably enagged Within said transverse slot and having a diagonal rib on its outer surface slidably engaged within said cam slot whereby movement of said other member in said transverse slot and along said cam slot effects longitudinal movement of said top jaw, a manually operable screw threaded to said lbase member and having a head rotatably engaging said other member for effecting movement of said other member within said transverse slot, and cooperating graduations on said head and said other member for indicating movement of the said top jaw responsive to rotation of said screw.

References Cited in the file of this patent 627,395 Great Britain Aug. 8, 1949 

